Mi español · level A0
In Spanish you greet by the time of day: buenos días in the morning, buenas tardes in the afternoon, buenas noches once it is dark, and a short buenas at any hour. To introduce yourself, give your name with me llamo, say where you are from with soy de, and close with mucho gusto. In Bolivia the greeting comes before any question, and a first introduction is often short and warm.
Every phrase comes from the lessons. Press play to hear it.
A stranger, a person at a desk or an older neighbour will speak to you with usted: ¿Cómo se llama? asks your name, ¿Cómo está usted? asks how you are. Answer first, then hand the question back: ¿Y usted? Usted is also the safe choice with a vendor you see every week, until she invites you to be less formal.
The rule card of lesson 2
What the lessons tell you about doing it here.
Santa Cruz · Lesson 1
In Bolivia, a buenos días comes before any question: at a desk, in a shop, at a counter. Skipping it sounds colder here than in many countries, and the same question lands much better right after a greeting.
Santa Cruz · Lesson 2
In Bolivia, a first introduction is often short and warm. Your name and where you are from are enough to start; you do not need to tell your whole story.
Santa Cruz · Lesson 19
In many Bolivian families, one kiss on the cheek is the normal greeting, even at a first meeting through a partner. If you are unsure, a handshake is a fine fallback, but following your host's lead usually feels warmest. Either way, the words stay the same: buenas noches, mucho gusto.
The chat that closes each lesson: what you hear, and the reply the lesson teaches.
Lessons 1 and 2 of Mi español teach exactly this, with short exercises and these dialogues.
Lesson 1 · {min} to {max} min Free
Greet someone at any time of day, answer when someone asks your name, and say you are glad to meet them.
Lesson 2 · {min} to {max} min Free
Say where you are from and what you do, ask and answer how someone is, and hear when a person speaks to you politely with usted.
Start lesson 2The situations these lessons prepare you for.
Live it in Bolivia
You will greet someone new and tell them your name.
See this situationLive it in Bolivia · where a goal starts
This is where the goal “Study” starts.
Start chapter 1 free